Would you pay up to £70,000 for a Kia? That’s around £10,000 per seat for the upcoming Kia EV9 seven-seater all-electric crossover, seen here as a nearly production-ready prototype.
The Korean car firm, once renowned for its value-for-money vehicles but becoming increasingly mobile, is set to officially launch the new EV9 early this year ahead of first UK deliveries by the end of the year.
The current EV6 electric crossover launched last year – along with a next-gen Niro and a new Sportage SUV – and already costs from £45,345, with a sporty GT variant starting at £62,645.
Expensive: The brand will soon launch the all-electric EV9 which can cost £70,000
The new EV9 will sit above that and is just one of 14 electric vehicles to launch globally by 2027. Nine are coming to the UK ahead of an all-electric range by 2030, with some built in Slovakia from 2025. guarantees, this is a sign of the way things are starting at Kia which, for the first time, broke the historic barrier of 100,000 cars per year in the United Kingdom. It is now our sixth largest seller, having increased sales by 10.3% last year against a 2% market decline.
I walked into Kia’s UK headquarters in Walton-on-Thames, Surrey this week to see the energetic UK Chairman and CEO, Paul Philpott, who told me how far he’s come over the 15 years – and where they are going next.
Kia celebrated record sales of 100,191 in 2022, four times more than in 2007. Top sellers last year were the Sportage SUV, the Niro family and the Ceed family of vehicles. Philpott says 20% of this year’s advance order bank is already for electric vehicles – and that’s expected to grow.
Kia’s ‘electrified’ vehicle sales now account for 43% of the mix (16.3% pure electric, 22% hybrid and 5% plug-in), with 54% petrol and just 4% diesel.
The average electrified mix in the UK is 34%.
And while total sales of Kia’s electrified vehicles soared 48% year-on-year, those of traditional internal combustion engines fell 7.4%.
Kia celebrated record sales of 100,191 in 2022, four times more than in 2007
While Kia’s total electrified vehicle sales climbed 48% year-on-year, those of traditional internal combustion engines fell 7.4%.
As a result, the CO2 average has fallen from 164g/km in 2007 to 106g/km in 2022, compared to an industry average of 111.4g/km
In 2025, it will launch the first of its all-electric commercial eLCV vans
Kia has sold nearly 1.4 million cars in Britain since its UK launch in July 1991
As a result, average CO2 has fallen from 164g/km in 2007 to 106g/km in 2022, compared to an industry average of 111.4g/km.
And in 2025, it will launch the first of its fully electric eLCV commercial vans.
With 191 dealerships being revamped, Philpott is aware of competition from emerging Chinese brands like MG and Polestar, and recent steep price cuts from Tesla.
He said, “China is big competition. Anyone who thinks otherwise has their head in the sand.
But he adds that many are moving from premium brands such as BMW, Audi and Jaguar: “They can get a highly specced EV6 for £58,000 and see it as fantastic value.”
Kia has sold nearly 1.4 million cars in Britain since its UK launch in July 1991.
Philpott said: “Since Kia first entered the UK car market 32 years ago, the brand has gone from strength to strength.”
Jeep Avenger is European Car of the Year
The all-electric Jeep Avenger has been crowned European Car of the Year 2023 by an international jury.
It is the first time that the American brand – which is now part of the giant Stellantis group – has won this distinction on the occasion of the 60th anniversary of the prize, presented this year at the International Motor Show in Brussels.
Elegant: the 100% electric Jeep Avenger has been crowned European Car of the Year 2023 by an international jury
Electric vehicles won the top three spots, with VW’s electric ID Buzz named second by the 57-member jury from 22 European countries.
Pre-orders for the zero-emission compact Avenger 1st Edition have opened in the UK priced at £36,500, ahead of the full range launch in June. Powered by a 156 hp (115 kW) electric motor, Jeep claims a range of 248 miles.
Features include six terrain modes, hill descent control, voice recognition, 360 degree parking sensors, automatic tailgate and intelligent speed assist.
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